Mumbai: 50 fires due to bursting of crackers in Diwali week

City reported 50 incidents of fire due to bursting of crackers this Diwali week. (Representational)

THE CITY reported 50 incidents of fire due to bursting of crackers this Diwali week — between November 6 and 10 — much higher than last year’s 37 cases.

While in all, the fire brigade received 392 calls regarding fire incidents since November 6 — two among them were Level III (major) fires — bursting of crackers led to 50 cases. Most of these cases were Level 1 fires (minor).

In 2016, 83 calls were made to the fire brigade regarding bursting of crackers alone. In the last three years, BMC has recorded 170 such calls.

In a recent order, the Supreme Court had allowed crackers to be brust only between 8 pm and 10 pm.

The Mumbai Police has booked over 100 people for flouting the order.

Twelve people were also arrested in and around Mumbai for allegedly bursting crackers on Diwali beyond the stipulated time period. They were later granted bail.